First 2014 cent spotted in change

I have been waiting quite a while for readers of Numismatic News to encounter their first 2014-dated coin in change and report it to me.

As in nearly every year, the first reported coin in 2014 is a Lincoln cent from the Philadelphia Mint.

Gerald d’Aquin of Harvey, La., tells me he obtained it in his change at a local Popeyes Fried Chicken establishment.

He adds that, This is the earliest I’ve ever received a current year coin.”

Congratulations, to Mr. d’Aquin for being the first to report his find.

While this is the earliest Mr. d’Aquin has received a coin of the new year, it certainly is not the earliest for others in other years.

During boom times (think the dotcom years of the late 1990s) it was not uncommon for new coins to appear in the first day or two of the new year.

In the early years of the state quarter program, these would pop up during the Florida United Numismatists convention either courtesy of the U.S. Mint booth, or the hyperactive economy of some years and the banking system that fueled it.

In other years, (think 2009) many Americans never saw in their change the four designs of Lincoln cent issued that year to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of our 16th President.

Coin demand was down for economic reasons. Coin supply from newly unemployed or otherwise pinched Americans was way up as previously stashed coin hoards found their way to banks and eliminated much of the normal demand for new cents.

Let me know if you have found any 2014 coins in change. I still need reports of finds of nickels, dimes and quarters.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is winner of the 2013 Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."